Sida acuta Burm.f. - MALVACEAE - Dicotyledon

Common name : spiny headed sida, broom weed.

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Botany Biology Phenology Ecology Distribution Agricultural importance Cultural control Biological control Chemical control

Botany :

Description : Terrestrial, perennial, erect shrub, up to 150 cm tall. Taproots white or brown. Stems rounded, solid, glabrous or stellate-hairy. Stipules present, triangular, triangular, glabrous. Leaves simple, not lobed or divided, alternate spiral, linear to lanceolate, stalked, more than 2 cm long/wide, margin coarsely dentate, apex acute, base acute or rounded, (stellately) hairy, pinnately veined. Flowers bisexual, solitary or sometimes in crowded heads, axillary, petals 5, yellow to orange. Fruit a capsule, splitting into 8—10 nutlets (mericarps).

Biology :

Reproduction by seeds.

Phenology :

Usually flowering and fruiting August to December.

Ecology :

Prefer dry and sandy conditions, In upland crop areas, roadsides, waste places, and pasures.

Distribution :

Pantropical, originating from central America.

Agricultural importance :

A serious weed of some 15 crops, particularly plantations, annual field crops and degraded pastures; to date not reported as such a serious weed in irrigated rice fields.

Cultural control :

Single plants or small patches can be grubbed before flowering, taking care to cut the root well below the crown to minimize regrowth. In larger areas, satisfactory control is obtained by cultivation and sowing improved pastures.

Biological control :

Biological control for this species has been investigated in Australia. A leaf feeding chrysomelid beetle, Callingraapha pantherina, from Mexico was released in 1989.

Chemical control :

2,4-D at 0.5 to 0.8 kg ha-1 or MCPA at 0.4 kg ha-1 applied 20-30 d after emergence provides efficient control.

Uses :
The stem fibres are sometimes used to make course cordage. The stems are also used for brooms and baskets.

References :
-Holm L. G., Plucknett D. L., Pancho J. V., Herberger J. P. 1991. The world’s worst weeds. Distribution and Biology. East-West Center by the University Press. Hawaii.
-Marita I.G., Keith Moody, Colin M. Piggin. 1999. Upland Rice Weeds of Southeast Asia, IRRI.
-Moody K., Munroe C.E., Lubigan R.T., Paller E.C.Jr. 1984. Major Weeds of the Philippines.
-Tadulingam C., Venkatanarayna G. 1985. A Handbook of some South Indian Weeds.

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